Lawrence, KS Public Conduct: Public Marijuana Use (2026)
Key Facts
- First offense fine cap
- $1,000.00
- Small quantity threshold
- 32 grams or less
- Second offense fine range
- $200.00-$2,500.00
- Max jail (repeat offense)
- 1 year
- Enforced by
- Lawrence Police Dept./Municipal Court
Summary
In the City of Lawrence, it's unlawful to possess or use marijuana and THC anywhere under City Code § 14-902, mirroring Kansas's statewide controlled substances ban. The Lawrence Police Department and Municipal Court enforce it, but for adults caught with 32 grams or less, § 14-904 creates a strong presumption of just a $1.00 fine on a first offense.
Except as authorized by the Uniform Controlled Substance Act, K.S.A. § 65-4101 et seq., and amendments thereto, it shall be unlawful for any person to possess or have under such person's control marijuana or tetrahydrocannabinol. ... (1)On a first offense for violation of section 14-902, the convicted person shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $1,000.00; provided, however, that if the convicted person is 18 years of age or older and found to have been in possession of a small quantity of marijuana, as defined herein, there shall be a strong presumption that the court is limited to the assessment of a $1.00 fine in addition to all applicable court costs, laboratory fees, and the cost of any evaluation ordered pursuant to this section. In addition to such fine, the convicted person may be sentenced to serve a jail term of not more than 180 days. For the purposes of this section, a small quantity of marijuana means the possession of 32 grams or less of marijuana.
Full Breakdown
Section 14-902 makes it unlawful for any person to possess or have under their control marijuana or tetrahydrocannabinol anywhere in Lawrence, except as authorized by the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, mirroring the state ban. Because the ordinance carries no separate public-use offense, this possession statute is also what covers marijuana use spotted in parks, streets, and other public places in the city. 00 plus court costs, lab fees and any ordered evaluation. 00. A case with fewer than two priors stays in municipal court. Judges can suspend part of the minimum fine after weighing the defendant's finances, quantity involved, criminal history, voluntary treatment completed, and cooperation identifying a source.
A second conviction can trigger a mandatory drug abuse evaluation under section 14-904(c), modeled on the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's brief counseling protocol, and diversion agreements carry the same evaluation option. § 28-176 whenever lab testing was used in the case.
Violations & Fines
First-offense fines run up to $1,000.00, but adults with 32 grams or less trigger a strong presumption of just a $1.00 fine plus costs, fees and any court-ordered evaluation under § 14-904(a)(1). A second conviction, or any prior conviction for a similar offense elsewhere, raises the fine to $200.00-$2,500.00 and jail exposure to a full year under § 14-904(a)(2), and repeat cases can also trigger a mandatory drug abuse evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is marijuana legal in Lawrence, Kansas?
What happens if police catch me with a small amount in public?
Does a second offense cost more?
Can the court require drug counseling?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lawrence
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